2 Corinthians 6:4

2 Corinthians 6:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
• New International Version (NIV)Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses;
• English Standard Version (ESV)but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities,
• New King James Version (NKJV)But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses,

Context of 2 Corinthians 6:4

2For He says, “At the acceptable time (the time of grace) I listened to you, And I helped you on the day of salvation.” Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation”— 3we put no obstruction in anyone’s path, so that the ministry will not be discredited, but we commend ourselves in every way as servants of God: in great endurance, in sufferings, in hardships, in distresses, 5in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in labors, in sleepless nights, in hunger, 6in purity and sincerity, in knowledge and spiritual insight, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love,

2 Corinthians 6:4 word by word

ἀλλ᾽ ἐν παντὶ συνιστάντες ἑαυτοὺς ὡς θεοῦ διάκονοι ἐν ὑπομονῇ πολλῇ, ἐν θλίψεσιν, ἐν ἀνάγκαις, ἐν στενοχωρίαις,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butἀλλάalla · butG235
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• approvingσυνίστημι, συνιστάωsunistaō sunistanō sunistēmi · to commendG4921
• ourselvesἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
• asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• the ministersδιάκονοςdiakonos · servantG1249
• of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• muchπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
• patienceὑπομονήhupomonē · perseveranceG5281
• afflictionsθλῖψιςthlipsis · pressureG2347
• necessitiesἀνάγκηanagkē · necessityG318
• distressesστενοχωρίαstenochōria · hardshipG4730

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 6:4

• 2 Corinthians 2:17For we are not like many, [acting like merchants] peddling God’s word [shortchanging and adulterating God’s message]; but from pure [uncompromised] motives, as [commissioned and sent] from God, we speak [His message] in Christ in the sight of God.
• 2 Corinthians 7:11For [you can look back and] see what an earnestness and authentic concern this godly sorrow has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves [against charges that you tolerate sin], what indignation [at sin], what fear [of offending God], what longing [for righteousness and justice], what passion [to do what is right], what readiness to punish [those who sin and those who tolerate sin]! At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in the matter.
• Acts 2:22“Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man accredited and pointed out and attested to you by God with [the power to perform] miracles and wonders and signs which God worked through Him in your [very] midst, just as you yourselves know—
• Romans 14:18For the one who serves Christ in this way [recognizing that food choice is secondary] is acceptable to God and is approved by men.
• Romans 16:10Greet Apelles, the one tested and approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus.
• 1 Corinthians 9:11If we have sown [the good seed of] spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?
• 1 Thessalonians 2:3For our appeal does not come from delusion or impure motives, nor [is it motivated] by deceit [our message is complete, accurate, and based on the truth—it does not change].
• 1 Timothy 2:15But women will be preserved (saved) through [the pain and dangers of] the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and holiness with self-control and discretion.
• 2 Corinthians 4:2But we have renounced the disgraceful things hidden because of shame; not walking in trickery or adulterating the word of God, but by stating the truth [openly and plainly], we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.
• Romans 5:8But God clearly shows and proves His own love for us, by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
• 2 Corinthians 3:6He has qualified us [making us sufficient] as ministers of a new covenant [of salvation through Christ], not of the letter [of a written code] but of the Spirit; for the letter [of the Law] kills [by revealing sin and demanding obedience], but the Spirit gives life.
• 2 Corinthians 11:23Are they [self-proclaimed] servants of Christ?—I am speaking as if I were out of my mind—I am more so [for I exceed them]; with far more labors, with far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, and often in danger of death.
• Isaiah 61:6But you shall be called the priests of the Lord; People will speak of you as the ministers of our God. You will eat the wealth of nations, And you will boast of their riches.
• Joel 1:9The [daily] grain offering and the drink offering are cut off From the house of the Lord; The priests mourn Who minister to the Lord.
• Joel 2:17Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, Weep between the porch and the altar, And let them say, “Have compassion and spare Your people, O Lord, And do not make Your inheritance (Israel) an object of ridicule, Or a [humiliating] byword among the [Gentile] nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’ ”
• 1 Corinthians 3:5What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Just servants through whom you believed [in Christ], even as the Lord appointed to each his task.

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 6:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4But in all things approving ourselves - The apostle now proceeds to show how conscientiously himself and his fellow laborers acted, in order to render the ministry of reconciliation effectual to the salvation of men. They not only gave no offense in any thing, but they labored to manifest themselves to be the genuine ministers of God, in much patience - bearing calmly up under the most painful and oppressive afflictions. In afflictions - . This may…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4But in all things - In every respect. In all that we do. In every way, both by words and deeds. How this was done, Paul proceeds to state in the following verses. Approving ourselves as the ministers of God - Margin, “Commending.” Tyndale renders it, “In all things let us behave ourselves as the ministers of God.” The idea is, that Paul and his fellowlaborers endeavored to live as became the ministers of God, and so as to commend the ministry to the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-10Paul provides a clear picture of the challenges in his ministry (compare 4:7–18). He lists nine trials, many of which are recorded in Acts (for example, Acts 14:5–6, 19–20; 16:19–24; 21:30–36). Through their unwavering suffering for the good news, Paul and Timothy (2 Corinthians 1:1) proved they were true ministers of God.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. Translate, to mark the true order of the Greek words, "in everything, as God's ministers recommending ourselves," that is, that our hearers may give our message a favorable hearing, through our consistency in every respect, not that they may glorify us. Alluding to 2Co 3:1, he implies, We commend ourselves, not like them by word, but by deed. patience--(2Co 12:12). Put first. "Pure-minded" follows (2Co 6:6). Three triplets of trials exercising the…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Corinthians 6:4

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Holy Spirit
• Longsuffering
• Love
• Minister, Christian
• Obedience
• Paradox
• Patience
• Paul
• Persecution
• Resignation
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Agreement
• Care
• Cause
• Communion
• Concord
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the
• Unequally
• Unrighteousness

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings